Over the past four years, Hilary Riva has worked on a pro bono basis as Chief Executive to increase both financial and industry support for the BFC and to reinvigorate London Fashion Week. Hilary is now handing over to a new and larger management team with resources to take forward new initiatives and lay the foundations for future growth. From April 2009 Caroline Rush and Simon Ward will become joint Chief Executives of the BFC.
Hilary Riva will step down as CEO to take on a role which will focus on future development projects for the BFC. These projects will include funding of both the BFC and designer support, the remit of the BFC and its future role within the industry through an industry report. In order to move forward on these projects, the BFC will establish a new development committee, of which Hilary will become the chairperson.
Harold Tillman commented “Caroline and Simon have both worked with the British Fashion Council for many years. They are equally committed to making the British Fashion Council an even more dynamic organisation; through very different but complementary skills they will drive more new initiatives and more opportunities for talented British designers to showcase, develop and grow.
“Hilary has been a catalyst for positive change for the British Fashion Council. I thank her on behalf of the industry for the generosity of time, her commitment and the selfless energy she has given to date and will not doubt continue to commit to our legacy projects.”
Caroline Rush and Simon Ward’s first action is to develop a new three year plan with the aims of
• Further developing London Fashion Week as a cutting edge showcase of British designer fashion; to increase opportunities for British designers, and alongside Head of International Relations Anna Orsini, to develop their businesses internationally.
• Establishing and growing a business support package that enables the best new British designers to access business expertise, as well as financial support and to become successful sustainable British businesses.
• Exploring the BFC’s role within the industry to bring together designer support organisations to increase opportunities and funding for British designer businesses.
In Harold Tillman’s opening speech at London Fashion Week, February 2009, he announced that London Fashion Week would move to a new home, Somerset House from this September. This move is part of 25 year legacy plans and will be integral to delivering the first part of the new strategy.
Caroline Rush has worked with the British Fashion Council since 1998 and in PR and marketing for 17 years. Simon Ward has worked for the British Fashion Council for over 20 years, first as Administrator and more recently as Head of Operations. Both have worked alongside Hilary Riva and share her commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for British fashion talent to showcase and grow their businesses in the UK and internationally and look forward to taking these forward under their management.
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